Will the Heat win two at home to win the NBA title?

Reporters from around Tribune Co. discuss whether the Miami Heat can bounce back from a 3-2 deficit against the San Antonio Spurs in their best-of-seven NBA Finals series. Check back throughout the day for more responses and feel free to join the conversation with a comment of your own.

Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times

It’s certainly doable, but I’m going to say it won’t happen. The Heat very well may win Game 6 at AmericanAirlines Arena, and it could easily be a blowout, but I would then slightly favor the Spurs in a taut Game 7. This series is too back-and-forth for one team to win consecutive games.

Plus, San Antonio’s “teamness” seems to be a notch better than Miami’s, meaning it is more cohesive and can better absorb subpar play from a key player. The Spurs are tough enough and resilient enough to prevail in a winner-take-all Game 7, and I think that’s how it’s going to play out.

Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

I guess I have more faith in the Miami Heat and LeBron James than most people do.

As well as the San Antonio Spurs have played, I still think the Miami Heat will win Game 6 and then win Game 7 and repeat as NBA champs.

Those two games will be played in Miami, where the Heat play their best basketball.

But having homecourt advantage is just a part of my gut feeling why the Heat will prevail.

I’m placing my faith in James.

He’s the world’s best player, and I think he will take his game to another level.
He has to.

So far, the Spurs have played better team basketball than the Heat, and San Antonio also has received a remarkable shooting performance from Danny Green and a strong effort on defense from Kawhi Leonard.

It’s going to take a historic effort from James to derail the Spurs.
I think he will do it.

[Updated at 1:30 p.m.:

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune

The Miami Heat haven’t won two straight games since dispatching the Bulls from the second round of the playoffs with a four-game win streak. They haven’t lost two straight games since Jan. 10. Here’s saying the former changes, not the latter. The Heat will rally to win their second straight title in seven games because this is what they do: They thrive on adversity and rallying. The Heat are 8-3 at home this postseason, which isn’t great. But in elimination games at home they are 2-0, including a Game 7 victory over the Pacers. LeBron James will carry the Heat to victory in Game 6. And while the Spurs are too proud and veteran-laden to be fazed by a Game 7 on the road, the Heat will increase defensive pressure, get turnovers and get in the open court. Only three times since the NBA went to a 2-3-2 format in 1985 has a team rallied from a 3-2 deficit by winning the final two games at home. Look for the Heat to become the fourth.]

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